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Leave the Grave Green Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,466 listener ratings
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When a body is discovered floating in a Thames river lock one dreary morning, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James are summoned from Scotland Yard to Chiltern Hills. The dead man is Connor Swann, son-in-law of two of London’s most renowned opera personalities. And prints on the corpse’s neck suggest that Swann was strangled. As Duncan and Gemma explore the quiet woods above the Thames and the flamboyant world of London opera in search of answers, they discover a tangled web of family secrets and hidden emotions. And when Duncan finds himself dangerously drawn to a suspect, he and Gemma must sort out their complicated feelings for each other.
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"The series by Deborah Crombie of Superintendent of Scotland Yard Duncan Kincaid and Sargeant Gemma James is truly great reading. If you are a buff of English history, reading her novels are as rewarding, and a lot more fun, than studying English history. In this fourth book, Duncan and Gemma are called in on a case of a man found floating in a Thames River lock. A prologue relates the case of a similar drowning of Matty, a young musical prodigy. Julia, his older sister, couldn't save him when he slipped into a swollen stream. The autopsy determines that Connor had bruises on his throat and his lungs did not contain any water. Now, the two officers must discover the truth from a multitude of lies. Gemma finds herself drawn to the opera star, mother-in-law of the murdered man, while Duncan is smitten with Julia, her daughter. They find that Connor had gambling debts and an unsavory reputation with many possible suspects for his death. The working relationship between Duncain and Gemma has always been very good, but in this fourth book, they consummate their relationship. The plot is strong and the dialogue perfection. I strongly recommend this series."
— Bonnie (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Secrets, big and little, hound one character after another: liaisons, frustrated ambitions, lies that cover older lies. Deborah Crombie has stylishly adopted a British accent along with a feel for British customs in crime.”
— Washington Post Book World -
“The passages of the first drowning are haunting, the mystery is intriguing, the characters are well developed and the solution satisfies. Stay tuned.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Crombie’s insightful writing and an engrossing reading by Deehy make this haunting whodunit well worth hearing.”
— AudioFile -
“Detail and pacing are immaculate as the investigation is drawn closer and closer toward domestic secrets as the source of the solution to the crime. A superbly engrossing whodunit for all active mystery collections.”
— Booklist -
“Tidily plotted and neatly written.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Leave the Grave Green Listener Reviews
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" Fascinating setting in the Chiltern Hills and also in the enchanting world of grand opera, with a side exploration of the modern art scene. Extraordinary circle of characters with some surprising hidden links and family secrets. One of my favorite books in this series. "
— doybia, 10/27/2020 -
" My favorite of this whole series. Beautifully written with a wonderful central character/mystery. "
— Kandice, 2/13/2014 -
" No Mark Upon Her is the first Deborah Crombie novel that I had read. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately got this book, Leave The Grave Green. I was not disappointed for it is another well written mystery with believable characters and with plenty of twists and turns throughout. One thing that seems to be a very prevalent force in Crombie's books is a study of behavior and misbehavior. We have two parents who willing and knowingly act as if they love one child and not the other. What motivates this type of misbehavior? It becomes even more perverse when it is revealed that its not even the fathers real child, and he has always known this. So he loves another mans child but not his own. I cant wait to read my next Deborah Crombie mystery... "
— Gail, 2/7/2014 -
" This wasn't terrible, per se, but because I was listening, and because it really didn't capture my attention, I had a hard time focusing on it. So I listened to the entire book, but I can't tell you a lot about it. I don't know if it would have been different had I read it instead. At least it wasn't graphic and the language was unoffensive (at least 99 percent of the time). But when that is the best you can say about a book, maybe it isn't for you. "
— Michelle, 2/5/2014 -
" Intriguing developments personally with the characters; the problem didn't seem quite as important in comparison. "
— Sarah, 2/2/2014 -
" A gentle crime novel. First book by this author that I have experienced, I had the audio book, it was ok. May read more but will not have me rushing to library/shop for more in series. "
— June, 1/27/2014 -
" Be sure to read this series in order because, although each novel is a well plotted mystery, the main charm comes in the protagonists: the British detective and his assistants and their engaging stories and development. The morals, however, of the detectives are "modern,"so be warned. "
— Sandra, 1/22/2014 -
" Third Kincaid/James book, but i read it second. Not bad, not great. Like their relationship but if Kincaid keeps falling for suspects in his case how can James ever marry him :) "
— Barbara, 1/11/2014 -
" This series is refreshing from so many other detective novels. The writing is clear and allows the reader to solve the case along with the detectives. I enjoy the interaction between Duncan and Gemma and how it has grown over the first three novels. "
— Melana, 1/10/2014 -
" I am enjoying this Kincaid/James series. "
— Shari, 12/29/2013 -
" I really love these books. Tightly woven story whose ending was a mystery until the very end. I had an inkling earlier, but not til the end was it revealed. I can't remember who among my Maud friends recommended this series, but thank you! "
— Sallie, 12/23/2013 -
" More of the same in this series. I'm a bit annoyed with the D.I. because he seems to fall in love with every women who is remotely attractive. These books are not bad, but definitely do not compare with Elizabeth George in the British mystery lit genre. "
— Elissa, 12/20/2013 -
" Weaves a bit more than some of Crombie's other tales. A pleasure. "
— Beth, 12/15/2013 -
" Another great read in this series! "
— Annette, 11/8/2013 -
" I tried really hard to pay attention and to figure out who the murderer was. Still couldn't do it. It was a complete surprise. "
— Lynne, 8/6/2013 -
" not so much into kincaid and gemma. will stop reading the series. they sort of fail to connect with me. "
— Barb, 5/18/2013 -
" Great addition to the series. "
— Cindy, 12/31/2012 -
" 3rd in the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series. "
— Peggy, 9/1/2012 -
" I really liked this mystery -- I wasn't happy with the cliffhanger ending though. "
— Mary, 5/28/2012 -
" The mystery itself wasn't that exciting - but love the developing relationship between Duncan and Gemma! "
— Jessica, 5/25/2012 -
" Just not quite as lively and thought-provoking as some of her previous mysteries have been. Plus, a few too many detective thinking-about-sex-and-personal-relationships scenes for me. "
— Vickie, 4/30/2012 -
" The relationship between Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Gemma James, becomes more complicated as they investigate the death of a senior police officer who wasn't quite what he seemed. Another very good entry in this fine series of police procedurals. "
— Nikki, 3/27/2012 -
" Another excellent entry in Crombie's Kincaid/James series. This 3rd in the series doesn't disappoint. The author deftly handles the balance between the individual mystery stories and the longer-term character-building. Highly recommended. "
— Clay, 10/4/2011 -
" I like the way the main characters are developing as the series progresses. "
— Marilyn, 7/23/2011 -
" Really great book. These are rereads for me and several new ones. This one is new and the last 2 or 3 pages are wonderful "
— David, 6/3/2011 -
" A gentle crime novel. First book by this author that I have experienced, I had the audio book, it was ok. May read more but will not have me rushing to library/shop for more in series. "
— June, 3/2/2011 -
" Affter begining with Necessary As Blood, found I wanted to go back and read more of the stories of Kincaid/James. Will be reading more of these. "
— April, 9/14/2010 -
" I really love these books. Tightly woven story whose ending was a mystery until the very end. I had an inkling earlier, but not til the end was it revealed. I can't remember who among my Maud friends recommended this series, but thank you! "
— Sallie, 5/9/2010 -
" What is the meaning of the title. I loved this book and all of Crombie'e work. "
— Georgia, 1/23/2010 -
" My favorite of this whole series. Beautifully written with a wonderful central character/mystery. "
— Kandice, 10/24/2009 -
" I am enjoying this Kincaid/James series. "
— Shari, 10/19/2009 -
" Be sure to read this series in order because, although each novel is a well plotted mystery, the main charm comes in the protagonists: the British detective and his assistants and their engaging stories and development. The morals, however, of the detectives are "modern,"so be warned. "
— Sandra, 7/4/2009 -
" Weaves a bit more than some of Crombie's other tales. A pleasure. "
— Beth, 4/5/2009 -
" The relationship between Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Gemma James, becomes more complicated as they investigate the death of a senior police officer who wasn't quite what he seemed. Another very good entry in this fine series of police procedurals. "
— Nikki, 2/12/2009 -
" fun, easy, and entertaining british mystery novel "
— Heather, 1/4/2009
About Deborah Crombie
Deborah Crombie is a Macavity Award winner and a finalist for the Edgar Award and the Agatha Award, as well as a New York Times bestselling author. She has written more than a dozen novels and is best known for her contemporary mystery series featuring Scotland Yard’s Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. Among this series is Dreaming of the Bones, which was selected as one of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
About Michael Deehy
Michael Deehy is an Earphones Award-winning narrator and an actor whose career has taken him around the world performing in a multitude of plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Shaw, Synge, and a host of other playwrights. He divides his time between the United States and England, where he has performed in both regional theater and in London’s West End, as well as a number of national television shows.